Folding bathroom stool



Jan. E0, 1950 M. s. MUMFORD ET AL 2,493,925

FOLDING BATHROOM STOOL l Filed May 9, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR. MQ@ jizzvzfora ayf'nggefze/ Cow Jan. 10, 95() Filed May 9, 1947 M. s. MUMFORD ET AL v FOLDING BATHROOM sTOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 -they will not be subjected to the direct spray of Patented Jan. 10,1950

.. yjf'o',l-FICE i Cowles, Chicago, ,'Ill.; said yCowles assignorfgto* v y saidMumfoi-Vd` The present invention relates to a folding bath room stool which is adapted to be set directlyin `a shower stall or in a bath tub. There are innumerable occasions When a small stool is very advantageous when taking a shower in ashower stall, or under a shower attachment extending over a bath tub, or even when taking a tub'v bath vin a conventional bath tub. For example,` when a person is shampooing his hair or Washing'his feet under a shower, it is much safer andimoxte comfortable to do these operations in a sitting position. All operations performed in a standing position under la shower arealwaysl subject to a very real risk, because of the danger of slipping on a cake of soap 'or on the wet surface' of the I' tub or shower stall.

Our improved bathroom stool has been particularly designed to meet the above situations.A The 4stool is composed of la material which willvnotbe `adversely affected `by continued subjection to: zwater, this material preferably consisting of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The stool has specially constructed rubber feet which prevent it from slipping on the bottom of the tub oronthe oor of the shower stall. Also, the stool has the proper width and other dimensionsto enable it"" to be used safely and comfortably in a narrow :shower stall, or resting on the relatively vnarrow fbottom of a bath tub. Y .r Y

One of the particular objects of the invention is to provide an intermediate supporting member disposed below the top seating surface which performs the different functions of afoot rest, shelf, step, and folding strut for spacing the folding legs of the stool. In the operative position ofthe w stool, the forward portion of this intermediate supporting member projects forwardly vbeyond the front edge of the top seating surface and the rearward portion extends back in under said top seat. When using the stool in a shower stall or t;-

tub, the forwardly projecting portion of thisintermediate support can be used as a foot rest-to support either foot in a raised position convenient for washing. At the same time, the rearwardly kextending portion which extends back in under the top seat can be used as a shelf for holding soap, liquid shampoo, or any other articles where lthe shower.

provide an improved folding construction which will enable this bathroom stool to be` collapsed into a relatively small flat unit when not'in use.

One of the particular features of this folding lconru 1o claims. (ci:

, .5.0 A"mi Another particular object of the invention is to "5': *i

f; Ystruc'ztion is: the arrangement whereby the legs arepivotally connected .with the seat -for sidewise foldingxmotion and the intermediate supportv is `rpivotallly connected with Vthe seat for fore and aft 'foldin'gmoti'on -When the legs 'are swung down- -wardly-'andrlaterallyto their normal supporting positionathe intermediate support can thenv be swun'g'fdow-nwardly' and forwardly 'to occupy a 'posit-ion? between the right-.and left legs, so as to ifun'ction as' a-horizor`1tal A'spacing strutto lock Lthe legs/inf their normal positions. When the intrmediate supporti-iis inthis position of'a hori- '-zo'ntal .spacing Vstrutg'i*it canWalso-be used as an inter'mediatefstepiin'any situation Where the de- 'viciisfbeingfuse'dasia 'tep' stool or low step ladv 'ONtl'ier objects,y features and advantagesof the ir iventiorrwilljappearv from the following detailed "description of one 'p'refejr'redJ embodiment thereof.

.inthe accompanyih rawings illustrating such looking down upon our I oll showing the leg strucl interni 'atesupport in their unfolded inormaljpositiqns; v Eig'ure 2 is affrontelei/ational view ofthe stool th th g 'struct1l1Sand ,intermediate support :mib ormalrposl. dus. .Y ,'i Figure 3 isgasi efview of Figures 1 and 2;

p Figure 4 .showV 'the stoolfoldedinto Vits colproximately v,onthe.plane of the line 5-5`of Figure V3 showing the 4'manner ,in which the rear jedge of-;-the,intermediate supportingmember is pivot- ;ally VCarried; .en lSivllneinel'suspension links;

g ,Figure wfis, Iagsectional view" taken approxi- 40 fmately; on theplaneofthe line 6-.5 ofy Figure 3 showing'thejmanner inwhich theupper ends of these suspension -linksfare pivotally connected ,withthe top' seat; l

Figures?isra'i'detail sectional lviewtaken appprqximatelyson the pianfof'theiine 1--1 of Fig- ;u'relB showing the'Iinterlocking"supporting brackniediate supporti'rfg'y member; and

Figure l8 isfl'iadetailfsctional view taken apmatelyfon'the of the line 8 8 of Fig- 'rnef top- Sear n;l uppn-'wh'icuthe user Yis to Sit ispreferably constructed/inthe form of a rec- 5 tang'ular''sh'eet-mentalpan-'punched out to have cumulate thereon. The central portion of thermseat is preferably depressed toward` thesedraim., 1

holes, so that any standing water will have a downward slope toward thesejholes.,V j j The seat I is supportedonright and Vleft pairs of legs the right pair of legs being integrally 4 mize the possibility'of the stool slipping on Wet surface. These rubber feet each consist of an upper channel-shaped section 23 adapted to fit up over the inner and outer sides of the main web or wall of each supporting leg. Each channel-shaped section is adapted to be fastened to 'said main web portion'bytransverse rivets 24 composed of aluminum or other rusteproof material. Tht bottom surfaces of these rubber feet Ahave a transversely slotted or ribbed formation 25Y which increase the gripping action of the rubber feet on a wet surface, somewhat comparable to; the action of a new tire tread on a wet pavemenu joined together as a right legstructur "t4, .9.111111 the left pair of legs being integrally jioined. 11o-- gether as a left leg structure I5. These leg struc'y turesare preferably constructed as sheet-metal 'stampings Acomposed of Soitaluminurn or the same metal or alloy as the seatpan IIL As'shown :in Figure 3, ea'choffthese leg structures` is of oblique A-shape having the frontulegs .lilo-Ilia -sloping.forwardly atk a considerable angle and Y having'the .rearlegssllb-Ilih extending subtions of each leg' frame are joinedby a topi cross bar portion Mee-lic andby an intermediate cross fbar portion '14de-15d. These vtim leg. frames and. I5. fare formed 4vwith, marginal. stiffening flanges I4 and l5. extending around the. margins of the. frontend-rear less-and the upper; and intermediate crosshaeportions. .These right and left leg frames can. lao-made as identical counterparts, except for the hinge lugs which will now be described. Y. A Y.

Referring to Figures l and the right. leg. structure 1.4 has. front and rear nmggeiues 15,. 1s' pro- ",stantially vertically.l front` and Vrearleg= porj ecting inwardly from `the ltoxxfedgoof' the leg structure. These hinge lugs have pivotal-mounting on aligned front and .rear hinge,iifSn nl l1" Ywhich aremounted in hingeelle in. 1511.6. depending marginal flange u atthefrontand rear edges of the seat pan I0. 'huswherf the, stool is to be folded., the right los.. structure' 14' dan. bejswung inwardly and. upwardly to l afoollapsed' position disposed substantially `4pe ,r;al llel to and" in. V.close proximity to the under 'side'of'the seat "L i 'When the leg structuren isy svkuingfdownr .to its vertical 'operativeposition the 'top' edge of the leg struc- VLture jand its marginalapgeMform an abut,-

ment adapted to abut thev underside ofthe seat Il) for` preventing-thelegf structure from swinging outwardly`4 beyond the substantially lverticalA :position shown infEi-gure'Z. `The lef-t'leg'- structure AI 5A has asimilar'pai'ieof front and-rear' hinge lugs f8, -I-"8" 'having pivotal mounting" onr front and rear aligned hinge pins" t9. I9" carried in pivot i eyes inthe depending marginal flan-gel Iat the front andrear .edgeso'the seat. The hinge lugs for the *left leg structure are of" longer: length than the hinge lugs for the rig-nt leg structure.

sothat whenithe left'leg structure is'swungfupf queoonstruetlou o Hof (Figure 3) Byy reason of the outward slope of the front leg Ma of right hand leg frame I4, the front., rubber foot 2| stays entirely clear of the pir'fotflug I8 of left hand leg structure I5 when the right hand leg structure is swung upwardly to its inner folded position lying between the Seat and the leftfhand leg structure. In this eamo' regard, theioar foot 22 ofleg I4b, clears Athe;hing-elug llby staying forwardly thereof when the leg structure I4 is swung up to its folded position.

Referring now .to the intermediate supporting member which performs the different functions 4o f-a footl rest, shelf, step and folding strut, this member is. indicated'at 30 and is preferably constructed as a sheet-metal stamping, preferably composed of soft. aluminum'and'having the form of ashallow rectangular pan stiffened by a downwardly extending marginal flange 3l formed around all four sides thereof. The central portion, of this, pan is also provided with drain holes 32, similar to the drain'holesj I2- o f the sea-t Il),v

and said central portion is preferably depressed Vtoward thesefdrain holes; so that standing water will' have downward slope toward the holes. The rear edge of the intermediate supportl) has a swinging suspensionjlink mounting, best shown inligures 5 and 6.7' Two videntical links-'24 have their lower endspi-votalfly connected with the right-f andleftsides' of; the intermediate support 3|)A at poi-nts adjacent to the rearL edge there- These links are alsok preferably composed of aluminum. The pivotal connections preferably comprise clevis pins orv shouldered 'pivot pins 35 which pass through pivot apertures in the lower ends of the .links 34 and through apertures in the anges 3l.: ofI the pan 3U'. The reduced'inner ends of these pivot. pins are headed over after insertion through the vholes inthe ange. 3d'. Aluminum. washersr381are preferably @minted on the intermediate portion of the pivot 'pins-to each side; ofthe link 3.4.

'lieupner ends of thelinks have a. similar pivot V'memeting.'on pirotbraclrets 4er/.nien are wemed .or riveted to, the under sidesof the Yseat pan I9 at .points best. shown. in Figures l; and 3;. The mar- `giinal flangesA I4,l anld'IgSat the tops. of the leg frames` are notched outto clearthese brackets 40, asshown in `Figure 1;..- Y'Ihepivotal connection between-the links ll/andthepivotbraekets. 4o Yis by a V.siaafil-ar construction and 'arrangement of v-slzlouldered olev-is ninsf'; 'preferablycomposed of zthereof is mounted in front support brackets 42 which are securedv to thesloping front leg portions |4a and |5a of the twoleg frames. As best `shown in Figure 7, each of these support brackets Yis vformed with an attaching plate portion 43 which is adapted to be welded or riveted to the lback surface of the stiifening flangeV 4,' or I5 of -its respective leg frame |4 or l5. ,Extending downwardly from this attaching plate portion is 1a' U-shaped portion 45 which forms an interlocking socket adapted to receive the downwardlyr extending flange 3| of the support pan 30 adjacent vthe front edge of said pan. Extending transvversely through this U-shaped portion 45, ad-

jacent the bottom thereof, is a rivet 48 adapted to function as a stop or locking pin. As shown in Figure 8, the lower edge of the flange 3| is formed with a notch 48 adapted to drop down over rivet 45'when the forward edge of the side flange 3| is in resting position in the U-shaped support 45.

This pin and notch arrangement preventsvfore and aft sliding ofthe fro-nt edge of the suppor pan within the support sockets 45.

It will be seen from Figure 3 that whenthis intermediate support 3U is lin its normal operative position, the forwardly projecting portion ofthe support extends suiiiciently beyond the front edge of the seat li! that it can be used as a foot rest to support either foot in a raised position convenient for washing. It will also be seen from Figure :3 that the rearwardly extending portion of the Vmember 3D extends back in underl the top seat l0 ytive locking prevents any accidental inward folding of the leg frames, and the engagement of the flanges 3| within the U-shaped sockets 45 also interlocks the leg frames against outward folding movement. When the device is to be collapsed into its folded position, the front edge of .the intermediate support pan 30 is merely lifted upwardly suiiiciently far to clear the side flange portions 3| from the U-shaped front support sockets 45, whereupon this support pan is then swung rearwardly and upwardly to place the support pan in a nested position substantially in contact against the under side of the top seat I0. Following this, the right hand leg frame I4 is then swung upwardly to its folded position, after which the left hand leg frame l5 is swung upwardly to its folded position overlying the right hand leg frame. Figure 4 shows the parts in their respective folded positions, from which it will be seen that the device folds into a very small space. By constructing all of the main parts of non-corrosive metals, such as aluminum or magnesium or any of their alloys, the device will not deteriorate or corrode from repeated subjection to hot or cold water, or continued standing in water. The aluminum construction also makes the device very light in weight. As illustrative of typical dimensions, particularly adapted to use in an average size bath tub, one preferred embodiment of our invention has a seat pan approximately inches wide and 8.5 inches deep, and has leg structures folding out to a separa- Finally, this intermediate sup- '?tion of approximately 13 inchestheseleg rstruc tures supporting the lseat about 15.5 inches high. However, ourinvention is not limited to these dimensions. y ,.2 ,i

yWhile we have: illustrated and described what we regard to be the preferred embodiment of our invention, neverthelessit willbe understood that vsuch -is merely exemplary and that numerous modilicationsand rearrangements may be made y'therein Without departing from the essence of the invention.

'..We claim: f f 1. In a device of the class described, the com- Ibinationof a seat portion, .right and'left leg structures pivotally connectedwith said seat portion .for sidewise folding movement into positions substantially parallelwith the under side of said seat portion, an intermediate step, and mechanism movably connecting said intermediate step with said seat portion including swinging links pivotally Iconnected to said intermediatestep and to said seatv portion whereby saidintermediate stepcan lserve asa horizontal spacingstrut between said pivoted leg structures when the latter are in their operative positions, and whereby said intermediate step can .be swung upwardly into a folded position substantially against the under side of said seat .portion when said leg structuresare to ,be swung up into their folded positions. 1 1 2. Ina-device of the class described, the combination of a top seat portion, right and left leg structures each comprising integrally joined front and rear `legs-.means pivot/ally connecting said leg structures...with saidfseat portions for sidewise folding fm-ovement into positions substantially parallel with the underside of Vsaid seat portion,

.an intermediate step below said seat portion norvmally disposed with a front edge projecting outwardlybeyond the front edge of said seat portion whereby said intermediate step canserve as a raisedfoot support, and means movably connecting said intermediate step with said seat portion wherebysaid step can beimoved rearwardly and upwardlyto a foldedpositionadjacent the under side of said seat portion when saidleg structures are swung upwardly into their folded positions.

3. In'ia device of the class described, the combination of a top seat portion, right and left leg vstructures each comprising integrally joined fron-t .andf rear legs,.. means 'i `pivotally connecting said right and left:leg'structures with the under side of said top seat portion along fore and aft hinge axes whereby said leg structures can be folded upwardly into positions substantially parallel with the under side of said 4seat portion, an intermediate step normally spaced below said seat portion, suspension links pivotally connecting the rear portion of said intermediate step with the under side of said seat portion, land suppOrting brackets on said leg structures for supporting the forward portion of said intermediate step, whereby said intermediate step can be swung rearwardly and upwardly to a folded position adjacent the under side of said seat portion when said leg Istructures are to .be swung upwardly to their folded positi-ons.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a top seat portion, leg structures pivotally connected with said seat portion for folding movement into positions substantially parallel with the under side of said seat portion, an intermediate support, suspension links lpivotally connecting the rear portion of said intermediate support with the under side of said seat portion, U-shaped supporting brackets secured to said leg `Structures1for' supporting the. front portionof-sa'id yintermediate support', and cooperating loc-king surfaces on said U-shaped 'supporting4 brackets and on said intermediate support for normally holding said yintermediate support against fore and aft movement. Y Y

5'. In a folding bathroom` stool, the combination lof a seat portion, leg structures pivotally connected withvv said seat-portion. for sidewise' folding movement into positions. substantially vparallel with the under side of said seat portion, an-.intermediate step, and means movably connecting said intermediate step with sa-idseat portion for fore and' aft folding movement into a positiony adja- .cent to the under sid'e of said seat portion.

V6. In; a Yfolding bathroom stool', the combination of a. sheet-metal seat portion, sheet-metal leg :structures pivotally connected with said seat por'- tion for sidewisefolding movement into positions substantiallyl parallel' Witxlrtnev under side of said seat portion, :a sheet-metal intermediate step, and means movably connecting said intermediatel step with said` seat portion forfore and aft folding `movement into a position closely adjacent. the under sideof said seat portion.

'7. Ina folding bathroom stool, the combination of a seat portion composed of `a', sheet aluminum stamping, leg structures composed of sheet aluminum stampings pivotally connected with said sea-t porti-on Vf'orsidevvi'se folding movement into Ypositions substantially parallel with the under .iside `of said seat' portion, an intermediate step composed of a sheetaluminum stamping, means Apivotally' connectingY said?. intermediate stepv with said: seat' portion., for :fore andaft: folding move- Y ment4 into'. a position closely adjacent the under side -of said seat portion, and rubber feetv on said leg structures having non-skid lower, surfaces a wet surface.-

V8l. Inafoldingibat'hroom stool; the combination of a. seat. portion, Vfolding legfstructures pivotally connectedzwit-h saictseat .portion for folding-.move- Ament intopositions substantiallyiparallel.with the under side of: said; seat portion, a folding: intermediate support; means moi/ably connecting vsaid `intermediatesupport withasaid seat portion for "folding movement towardandaway fromsaid seat portion,l andvv interlocking meansfor interlocking Vsaid intermediate support. tozsaid-leg structures when' the; latter vare* intheir:,operativefpositions .adaptedto minimizeftllel possibility of slipping on l whereby said intermediatev support interlocks said leg structures against accidental inwardf or outward folding motion. Y Y z 9. Ina foldingbathroom stool, the combination of a. seat portion, folding; leg structures pivotally connected with saidseat portion for folding movement into positions substantially parallel with the Y under side of said seat portion, a folding inter- 'mediate' support, means movably connecting said intermediate support with said seat. portion for foldingv movement toward ,and away from Said seatv portion,4 said: vintermediate support in its operative position serving as a bracing strut between. saidfoldingfleg structures and Xalso serving as a foot rest and shelf. 10.. In a folding bathroomstool, the combination'. of .a sheetmetal` seat portion, said seat porftion having centrally disposed drain apertures and top surfaces sloping toward said drain apertures, sheet-metal leg structures pivotally connected withvsaid seat. portion for sidewise folding movement into positions substantially parallel .feet on said leg structures having non-skid lower surfaces yadapted to sit Ydirectly Ion the bottom surface of a bath tub.

MANLY S. MUMFORD. EUGENE H. COWLES.

, REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Y Number Name Date 1,197,657 Oroilno Sept. 12, 1916 1,600,823 v Hess Sept. 2l, 1926 X2,433,699 Keenv Dec. 30, 1947 Y FOREIGN`v PATENTS Number Country Date 390'509 Germany Feb. 26, 1924 283,860 Italy Mar. 25, 1931 

